The Next Line ( The Lineage Series #2)

Joshuan

Flashback...

The day we moved to New York was the time I met the Sinclair family, it was because my mother forced me to be polite.

I remember standing stiffly in my too-clean, too-starched button-down shirt, my hands shoved into my pockets as my parents exchanged pleasantries with Luke and Elle Sinclair.

They were nice.

The kind of rich people nice that made my father stand taller, made my mother more polite than usual.

"They are good business partners," my father had said in the car earlier. "Treat them with respect."

That meant one thing—be on your best behavior.

I was already annoyed before I stepped foot onto their property.

And then?

Then I met Jamie Sinclair.

Jamie was outside kicking a soccer ball against the steps of the massive white estate, his curls bouncing, completely unbothered by the world.

When he saw me step out of the car, he didn't hesitate.

He ran straight over, grinning like he'd been waiting for me.

"Hey!" he called. "You're the new kid, right?"

I frowned. "I have a name."

Jamie just laughed. "Okay, new kid with no name, do you play soccer?"

I hesitated. "Yeah."

"Cool. We're best friends now."

I blinked. "What?"

Jamie shrugged, like it was obvious. "That's how it works. C'mon."

And just like that—I had a best friend.

I didn't know it then, but Jamie was the kind of person who decided things instantly.

And once he decided?

You were stuck with him.

Luckily for me, I didn't mind.

And then came her.

I was mid-pass, about to kick the ball back to Jamie, when a tiny blur of curls and pink fabric came flying toward us.

"JAMIE!"

Jamie groaned so dramatically I thought he was in actual pain.

"Oh my god," he muttered. "Go inside Aurora."

She ignored him completely.

Instead, she skidded to a stop right in front of me, grinning.

"You're the new kid!"

I frowned. Again with that?

"Why does everyone keep saying that?"

Jamie rolled his eyes. "Because you are the new kid, dumbass."

Before I could snap back, she grabbed my arm.

Her tiny hands were ice cold, and she yanked me forward like she had already decided I belonged to her.

"Come see my dolls!" she demanded.

I scowled. "Dolls are for girls."

Her eyes went wide.

Then—

She kicked me.

Right in the shin.

I yelled, stumbling back as Jamie howled with laughter.